Background and aims Root growth alters the rhizosphere thereby affecting root uptake of water and nutrients. However, the influence of abiotic stress on this process is poorly understood. In this study we investigated the effects of water and salinity stresses (both in isolation and combined) on maize ( Zea mays L.). Methods Seedlings were grown in pots packed with a loamy sand soil for two weeks and then subjected to water and salinity stresses, together with an unstressed control. After an additional two weeks, plants were removed from the pots and the soil aggregates adhering to the roots were collected and scanned using X-ray Computed Tomography. The ability of the aggregates to conduct water was calculated from pore-scale simulation of water flow using the lattice Boltzmann method. Results It was found that both water and salinity stresses reduced the permeability of the rhizospheric aggregates, although the reduction under salinity stress was more significant than under water stress. Combining water and salinity stresses reduced the permeability of the rhizosphere by one order in magnitude compared to the unstressed rhizosphere. Conclusions Abiotic stresses work with root-induced activity to reshape the rhizosphere. As water and nutrients need to pass through the rhizosphere before being taken up by roots, understanding such rhizosphere changes has an important implication in plant acquisition of soil resources.

中文翻译：

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不同非生物胁迫下玉米根际水力特性的变化

背景和目标 根系生长会改变根际，从而影响根系对水分和养分的吸收。然而，人们对非生物胁迫对这一过程的影响知之甚少。在这项研究中，我们调查了水分和盐度胁迫（单独的和组合的）对玉米（Zea mays L.）的影响。方法 将幼苗在装有壤质沙土的盆中种植两周，然后进行水和盐胁迫以及未受胁迫的对照。再过两周后，将植物从盆中取出，收集附着在根部的土壤团聚体，并使用 X 射线计算机断层扫描进行扫描。使用格子玻尔兹曼方法从水流的孔隙尺度模拟计算聚集体导水的能力。结果发现水和盐胁迫都降低了根际聚集体的渗透性，尽管盐胁迫下的降低比水胁迫下更显着。与未受应力的根际相比，水和盐度胁迫相结合使根际的渗透性降低了一个数量级。结论 非生物胁迫与根诱导的活动一起重塑根际。由于水和养分在被根部吸收之前需要通过根际，了解这种根际变化对植物获取土壤资源具有重要意义。与未受应力的根际相比，水和盐度胁迫相结合使根际的渗透性降低了一个数量级。结论 非生物胁迫与根诱导的活动一起重塑根际。由于水和养分在被根部吸收之前需要通过根际，了解这种根际变化对植物获取土壤资源具有重要意义。与未受应力的根际相比，水和盐度胁迫相结合使根际的渗透性降低了一个数量级。结论 非生物胁迫与根诱导的活动一起重塑根际。由于水和养分在被根部吸收之前需要通过根际，了解这种根际变化对植物获取土壤资源具有重要意义。